K92 Mining Announces 2026 Operational Guidance - Significant Production Growth and Exploration Program Planned
K92 Mining Guides for 30% Production Surge as Expansion Nears Full Throttle, Backed by Record Cash
The news release dated January 26, 2026, provides detailed operational and financial guidance for K92 Mining's 2026 fiscal year. Key projections include: - Gold equivalent production of 190,000 to 225,000 ounces, representing a 9% to 29% increase over 2025's record production of 174,134 oz AuEq. - By-product cash costs of $710-$770/oz gold and AISC of $1,250-$1,350/oz gold. - A record exploration budget of $31-$35 million. - Growth capital expenditure of $100-$108 million, with details on Stage 3 ($25-$28M) and accelerated Stage 4 ($75-$80M) expansion projects. - The company enters 2026 with a record net cash position, the Stage 3 Expansion 95% spent/committed and on budget, and multiple enabling projects scheduled for H1 2026 completion to support a stronger H2 production profile.
The 2026 guidance is materially positive as it confirms the successful transition from the construction/commissioning phase to the operational ramp-up of the Stage 3 Expansion. The production guidance midpoint of 207,500 oz AuEq represents a significant step towards the company's Tier 1 producer ambition. The cost guidance remains low and competitive. Crucially, the guidance is backed by a record net cash position ($131.2M as of Q3 2025) and detailed plans for completing key infrastructure, which de-risks the delivery. The news is in line with the trajectory established throughout 2025, where the company consistently met or beat guidance and progressed the Stage 3 plant commissioning. The decision to bring forward Stage 4 Expansion capital in 2026 signals strong confidence in the company's financial strength and execution capability.
K92 Mining Inc. is a high-growth gold producer focused on its 100%-owned Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. The mine hosts two principal high-grade, vein-hosted deposits (Kora and Judd) and a large-scale, bulk-tonnage exploration target at Arakompa. The flagship development is the Stage 3 Expansion, involving a new standalone 1.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) process plant and supporting underground infrastructure, which commissioned in Q4 2025. This expansion is designed to transform K92 into a Tier 1 mid-tier producer, with a subsequent Stage 4 Expansion (operating two plants concurrently) targeting 400,000 oz AuEq per annum.